New strategy aims to boost Mayo's marine offering

An oversight committee is being established this month to steer the implementation of a new maritime strategy for Mayo.

Mayo County Council's Head of Marine Michael O'Boyle presented a draft of the Mayo Maritime Strategy 2040 to members of the council's Enterprise and Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) at their meeting last month. He said the principal aim was to have Mayo "renowned for its marine offering" by 2040 by promoting the county as "a key maritime area that is open for business, harnessing all marine potential, both from local and national funding bodies".

Noting that Mayo has a very strong sea-faring tradition, Mr O'Boyle said: “This strategy is different in that we are developing it ourselves so there is no overbearing on it. It came from looking at what are the sectors in Mayo that can deploy employment and prosperity. I want to stress, we are doing this from the bottom up and are [the] leaders on this, being the first maritime strategy that any county has developed. However, resources are very low, we are not a funding authority, so we have to think very carefully about not being too ambitious and what are the things we can deliver on.” 

Listing out elements included in the strategy, he said: “Offshore wind might be a long time coming here but there is tremendous offshore energy potential [while] developing aquaculture and fishing activities would leverage piers and harbours.

"In terms of tourism, we will be looking at island connectivity and those that are lived on and not lived on. We are also looking at the whole cultural aspect of our maritime coast, for example our emergency response resource. Also, we have some of the biggest ships coming into Killala Bay and Westport, so we have to look at whether providing a safe haven for such vessels is realistic. 

"Then there is coastal protection to look at and so much more. It is all an active learning area.” 

Mr O'Boyle said it was hoped to have "a recognised maritime identity" by 2030, including upgraded marine infrastructure, as well as "working through our living islands and connectivity programmes and to have empowered coastal and island communities to develop their own objectives". 

"It all hinges on influencing government to finance piers and infrastructure, starting off with delivering the new pier at Roonagh, and building up momentum on that. We want a thriving sustainable maritime economy in Mayo that provides key supports to companies and that develops clusters of marine activities around the county.” 

He explained that a specific group of stakeholders is currently being set up to identify achievable priorities. The committee is to be coordinated through the council’s Enterprise and Economic Development SPC and it is expected that the work of establishing this group will be carried out in January and approved at the next meeting of the SPC in the first quarter of the year.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.